Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has in recent years become a well established option for people looking to avoid infection with HIV. As Niamh Fleming-Kelb recently wrote for us, however, fewer women than men are taking the opportunities PrEP offers: less than 4% of all PrEP prescriptions in the UK are for women.
Currently, PrEP most commonly comes in pill form, and is usually taken daily. But a new trial is seeking to understand whether a twice-yearly injection might provide all the benefits of the daily pill – and it has put out a call to recruit women specifically.
Birmingham is one of the centres for the trial, and Saving Lives is working with our friends at Heartlands Hospital to raise awareness of this chance for sexually active women in the city to access a potentially transformative treatment.
The “Purpose 5” trial is investigating a medicine known as Lenacapavir. Previous trials of this drug in PrEP settings has resulted in 0 – or very close to 0 – incidences of HIV.
“Purpose 5” is aiming to be extremely inclusive and diverse in the population investigated – and the team in Birmingham really want to hear from women, since a key goal of the trial is to understand whether women will find receiving an injection every six months more attractive than taking a daily pill.
The trial will last at least two years and will require around four clinic visits per year.
Saving Lives’ Medical Director, Dr Steve Taylor, is one of the principle investigators for the Purpose 5 trial and the Clinical Service Lead for the Birmingham Heartlands HIV Service, said “These injectable PrEP technologies have the potential to transform HIV prevention efforts in the UK and the wider world.”
“In Africa, the Purpose 1 Trial found that this injectable treatment was 100% protective, with 0 out of 2134 women receiving Lenacapavir becoming HIV positive.
“We need to show it works just as well in the European setting and is an attractive and acceptable option for women compared with the oral daily pill.”
Dan Hartland, CEO of Saving Lives, added: “Injectable long-acting PrEP is a major advance in the field of HIV prevention, particularly for women. This trial is crucial in its wider roll-out – so please get involved!”
Women interested in the trial are being asked to email coreresearchteambhh@uhb.nhs.uk before the end of April 2025. They can also contact the Heartlands HIV research team on 0121 424 2847.
